October 10, 1973 (1973-10-10) – May 1, 1974 (1974-05-01)
Doc Elliot is an American medical drama series that aired on ABC from October 10, 1973 until May 1, 1974.
Premise
Dr Benjamin R. Elliot (James Franciscus) is a successful New York City doctor who decided to leave Bellevue Hospital, drop out of the big-city rat race, and take on a new job as a doctor in Gideon, in the backwoods of southern Colorado. Most of his house calls had to be made via plane or four-wheel drive vehicles as his practice covered over 600 square miles. Mags Brimble (Neva Patterson) is the widow of the former town’s doctor, who became Elliot’s helper. Barney Weeks (Noah Beery) owns the town’s general store. Eldred McCoy (Bo Hopkins) works as a bush pilot.
Urban physician Doc Elliot relocates to a rural area to enjoy a less hectic life. One of his first patients is a young man suffering from depression, because he feels responsible for the accident that maimed his older brother.
Doc Elliot treats Jenny (played by Meredith Baxter), a blind woman who is very dependent on her reclusive husband. When Ben suggests an operation that will restore Jenny's eyesight, her spouse opposes the procedure, fearing that his wife will leave him.
Paul Bartlett (Will Geer) is an eccentric elderly man who owns valuable property that others covet. He is determined to have grandson Jamie (Leif Garrett) inherit it, but his behavior leaves his sanity in question. Doc Elliott is asked to sign off to have him committed.
Doc Elliot finds himself challenged when his patients turn to a faith healer for their illnesses. Ben's years of medical training are at odds with the community's spiritual beliefs.
One of Ben's patients is Bonnie Ames (Beverly Garland), an unmarried schoolteacher. After learning she is pregnant, she knows the community will pressure her to quit her job. Doc Elliot vows to stand behind her during this difficult time.
Doc Elliot sees a young man who doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps as a bronco-buster. The patient, named Gary (Sam Bottoms) has over-exerted himself by constantly running. Doc soon learns that Gary's father Stuart (Morgan Woodward) is very disapproving and rigid; consequently, Gary 'escapes' by running.
Cases of typhoid begin occurring in the small community and Doc looks for the source. His investigation leads him to a young couple who are intent on keeping a secret.
Lee Barrows (Sam Elliott) learns he has leukemia and returns to the town where he grew up, to die by himself. Doc Elliot counsels Lee and his wife Pamela (Katherine Justice) about different options, while trying to make the dying man comfortable.
Samantha Wells (Susan Brown) is a well-known New York actress who has relocated to Colorado to improve her son's asthma. Her son, Robert (Brandon Cruz), chafes because of the many restrictions but finds an ally in Doc Elliot who helps his mother better understand his condition.
Emma Johnson (Edith Atwater) is anxious to keep her gold mine, because the men that work in it frequently fall ill and are getting old. Unfortunately, they've been unable to extract enough gold to pay the debts or even the payroll. Desperate to find a new vein, the miners resort to stealing supplies and creating an unsafe new tunnel.
A carefree Native American youth crashes his speeding motorcycle, seriously injuring his brother who was riding with him. In sorrow, the youth goes into the mountains to offer himself as sacrifice for his brother's health. Doc Elliot finds the youth near death from exposure.
